Sherry's Official Page

Please do not cross post this email. 
This is an AFH group email being sent out to our volunteers

AFH is in crisis. As most of you are aware, our organization survives because of three things:

1.      The work of our volunteers (None of us are paid for the work we do)

2.      The fees we collect from adopters

3.      Donations we receive from the general public

Unlike many other rescues in the area, we do not receive funds from national organizations. Due to the current economic uncertainty, with investments in question and many concerned about their jobs, our donations are down significantly.

This overall downturn has also resulted in additional demand for our services. We have people who have lost their jobs, been evicted from their homes, and who are now living in their cars – or on the street – calling, asking us to take their family pets because they can't bear the thought of going to a "shelter" where their lifelong companion could be euthanized.

We continue to incur basic expenses such as food, routine medical care, transportation and insurance, but also have extraordinary expenses, too. The most frustrating of these is boarding fees. As I'm sure you've all seen, we've had dogs living in boarding situations for months. Each month that a dog lives in boarding, it costs us about $1,000. If these dogs were housed in a foster home, our cost would be zero. Additionally, the dogs would be getting acclimated to living in a home, rather than being kept in a crate, better preparing it for eventual adoption.

We've also had several dogs with serious illness or injury that have incurred very significant medical bills (thousands of dollars) – should we have let them die instead? We currently have three dogs who need to have orthopedic surgeries, but we're having to defer these operations due to a lack of funding.

So…what can you do to help?

First and foremost, volunteer to be a foster home! As you saw above, the direct savings to the organization from a foster care provider is approximately $1,000 per month, per dog. Next, make a financial contribution to AFH. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible – and don't forget about your employer's gift matching programs. We have over 1,200 volunteers on our email list – if each of you were to donate only $10.00, that would net the organization $12,000 which is a BIG drop in the bucket. Another thing you could do is to consider holding a fund-raising event on behalf of AFH.

This is the Season of Giving – unfortunately, we've seen significant declines in our donations this year. We need your help – and we need it NOW – to get us through our current crisis. Please help in any way you can. It will be very much appreciated, and it's all for those who can't help themselves, the animals of AFH.

If you can foster, here are the dogs that are immediate needs. Please look over this list and let us know which of these unfortunates you can accept into your home:

 

Boarding:

 

Sadie – Sadie is currently in boarding at $1,000 per month. Sadie is an 18 month old Rottie mix. She is a spayed female, approx 50-60lbs.  Sadie is not good with cats and small children are not a good idea because she jumps up and is mouthy.  She needs a confident dog handler because she's headstrong.  Her picture is on the website

 

Returns:

 

Hunter – Hunter is a one year old lab/hound mix male. He's neutered and weighs about 55lbs.  Hunter is not good with cats and small children are not a good idea as he is active and jumps up.  Hunter is timid with men.

 

Needs new foster:

 

Nikki – Nikki is a four year old dachshund mix. She is a spayed female who weighs approximately 22lbs.  She loves everyone and is housebroken.  Nikki is a chewer if left alone and does not love her crate.  Picture on website

 

Dogs that need help due to owners losing homes:

 

Brutus – Brutus is a three year old purebred Newfoundland male. He has not yet been altered and weighs in at a healthy 170 lbs.  Brutus is housebroken and good with other dogs.  He has no history with children or cats.

 

Stoney – Stoney is a two year old schnoodle male. He is intact and weighs about 22 lbs.  He is housebroken and good with other dogs.  He has no history with children or cats.

 

*The young woman who is giving up Brutus and Stoney has been living in her car.  She is begging dog food off her friends to feed the dogs.  She has not been able to get them vetted for over a year.

 

Five year old, fawn colored neutered male Boxer.  His owner lost his home and had to give up the dog. This boxer is currently being boarded at no cost with a vet who is going to euthanize him because he needs the space for paying clients.

 

 

Dogs/Puppies needing rescue from kill shelters:

 

Priscilla and pups – Priscilla is a purebred dachshund mom with four 6 week old mixed puppies.  Picture on website

 

Becca – Becca is a two year old hound mix. She is a spayed female who weighs about 40 lbs.  She is housebroken, good with other dogs.  Becca is the mother to our litter of puppies called Scupper & Siblings.  Picture attached

 

9 rottie/lab mix pups – these guys are 8 weeks.  They are currently living in a dark, filthy basement in Western MD.  Animal Control is confiscating them but the shelter is full and they will be euthanized.  Picture attached

 

Punkin – Punkin is an 8-10 week old beagle puppy. She's a female, chocolate & white.  Picture attached

Desiel - 9 week old boxer/lab mix pup, male, black & white.  Picture attached

Ozzie Great Dane - 6-8 months, approx 100lbs, intact male.  This Dane is black with white on his chest. He has lived in a kennel for most of his life.  He was purchased by a man that lived in an apartment.  The pup is shy and timid and did not do well with the stairs and strangers walking around.  He is good with other dogs.  No history with cats or children.  Does not walk on leash.  Not sure about pottytraining.  Picture attached

 

As most of you know, we've been instrumental in shutting down some really bad puppy mills. We're at it again! These are not as large as some of the others you've heard about, but the conditions are no better. Please make plans to help these when they become available!

 

·        approx 50 or so peke/pom adults and countless puppies that she will admit to.  We have already gotten 13 adults in bad shape from her. 

·        at least 10 cocker spaniel/jack russell mixes and her home is being foreclosed on.

 

As you can see, the need is greater than ever. Please, if you can help in any way, now is the time.

 

Thank you,

The AFH Board of Directors